STEEL Continues This Month at the Erickson Theatre on Capitol Hill

Seattle theatre and film artists in association with the theatre programs at Seattle Central College and Shoreline Community College have opened their world premiere of STEEL at the Erickson Theatre on Seattle's Capitol Hill. It will continue for the next two weekends.

Steel explores how a suburban New Jersey family, safe from the problems of the world, is suddenly thrust -- as so many families were -- into the chaos and violence of September 11, 2001.

The collapse of the Twin Towers is an event that wounds so deeply, only profound silence lies in its wake as the family shields their young son, Walker, from the pain and secrets exposed that day. But as he comes of age, Walker's questions break the silence that has torn his family, and community, apart.

Co-producer and cast member Tony Doupe' says: "Students from both colleges are involved with the production in positions ranging from stage manager and assistant director to box office. Being involved in a professional theater production like this gives them an extremely valuable opportunity to work with and learn from industry professionals, who are the very people who can potentially employ them upon graduation. Additionally, through their contributions of rehearsal and performance space, the colleges enable the production of this critical new work."

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Chris Fisher, playwright, has had plays produced in Seattle, New York and Whidbey Island and has directed regionally. She is co-author of the book Serving in Silence which was made into an Emmy-award winning film. She taught at Shoreline Community College for over 20 years, and currently teaches playwriting at Seattle Central College.

Duygu Erdogan Monson, director, has 20 years experience as an actor and director. She was co-founder of an award-winning feminist theatre company in Istanbul, Tiyatro Boyali Kus (Theatre Painted Bird). Currently a Doctoral Candidate at the UW School of Drama, she is a professor of Theatre and Film at Shoreline Community College.

Danny Herter, TD and lighting designer, brings his inventiveness in lighting and technical design to create the sights and sounds that haunt our world and this play. His original works have been performed at On the Boards, Velocity Dance Center, and The Pink Door.

The cast features Debra Pralle, Sharva Maynard, Tony Doupe', Andrew Granier, Rich Morris, Jason Adkins, Lucas Oktay and Charles Santiago:

Debra Pralle has acted at Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Village Theatre, and Annex Theatre, where she received the Seattle Times Footlight Award for outstanding acting in Penetralia. Her film and television highlights include Wild, The Architect, It's Only Life, Grimm, Leverage, Citizen Baines, The Fugitive. She is also a proud member of the Shoreline Community College Theatre and Film Department.

Sharva Maynard (Equity) Her roles have varied from Mrs. Norman in Children of a Lesser God to Glinda the good witch in The Wizard Of Oz. She has portrayed country singers and librarians, Irish grandmothers and southern innkeepers, teachers, sirens, Broadway babies and aristocrats and is indebted to Village Theatre, Seattle Children's Theatre, ACT, Intiman, Missouri Rep, The Human Race Theatre in Dayton and Oregon Cabaret Theatre in Ashland for their vision and support over the years.

Tony Doupe' has acted and directed at many theatres across the country including The Seattle Repertory Theatre, The Louisiana Repertory Theatre, The Santa Clarita Repertory, The Empty Space Theatre, New City Theatre, The New Space, The Kennedy Center, Center Rep. and Our American Theatre Company. A prolific film/TV actor and producer, and is also the Department Chair of the Shoreline Community College Theatre and Film Program.

Andrew Grenier has a theatre career that spans over fifty years as an actor, director, producer, and educator. Most recently, he directed God of Carnage, Doubt and Robbie Baitz's Other Desert Cities, in which he also played the role of Lyman Wyeth, at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts.

Lucas Oktay's stage work has included roles in A Christmas Carol at ACT Theatre, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at SCT, and Shenandoah at Showtunes. His film and television credits include The Librarians, BizKid$, Haskell (Young Haskell) and The Son, the Father (Young Luke).

Jason Adkins His films include Lemonheads, Simple Creature, and The Hollow One and the TV series Grimm and Librarians. He has acted on stage in such plays as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Buried Child, and Zoo Story, and is the voice of Ike in Nintendo's Fire Emblem video game series. He is an Alumn of the Shoreline Community College Theatre and Film Program.

Rich Morris has extensive work in film and TV. His work can be seen in such films and TV series such as Wild, Grimm, Z Nation, 90210, Leverage and Meet the Backers.

Charles Santigo is a student in the Shoreline Community College Theatre and Film Program.